Marriage vs. Love

Aeris smiled lightly as she dismounted from Sylvia, her horse. Patting the side of the horse's neck lightly she walked over to a small stream, kneeling down beside it and letting the cool water run through her fingers.

Hojo watched her quietly from his mount and then he too swung down to the ground, letting his horse roam free to the other. "You seem happy here, my dear." He said as he stepped up behind her. "Happier than perhaps I've seen you in many days."

Aeris turned and looked up at the king, rising to her feet slowly. "It is just so peaceful out here, sire. So beautiful." She smiled lightly as Hojo nodded. "I love the countryside." She said, moving past him to pick some of the wild flowers. Neither of them knew they were being watched.

"You still love the flowers, then?" He asked, turning to face her.

"Yes, sire. I think I always will love them, for are the not beauty in itself."

"Very true, my dear. I never thought of it in such a way." Hojo mused lightly.

Aeris wondered why the king was being so nice to her, during the time she had already been married to the prince, Hojo kept his distance from her.. though she knew he watched her all the time during dinner and sessions at court. Stepping past a tree she picked a few more flowers and looked up as a shadow fell over her. Aeris gasped and was about to speak when she was quickly silenced and dragged away from the scene.

Hojo sighed and walked back over to the horses.. that girl is still loyal.. he growled to himself. Pulling a dagger out of the saddlebag he smirked as his ran his finger lightly along the sharp blade. Yes.. this will do perfectly. Turning around he frowned as she saw the princess wasn't anywhere to be seen. "Aeris..? Where are you?" He called outed, glancing around the area slowly from where he stood by the horses, his dagger concealed behind his back.

Aeris blinked at the man who held her, gesturing for her to stay quiet. "You're.. that bodyguard, the captain of the guard of Wutai, right.. Tseng?" The raven-haired man nodded once, his eyes watching off to his right, looking at something Aeris couldn't see. "What are you doing?" She asked, being careful to keep her voice low. "Why have you dragged me here?"

Tseng looked back down at her. "I received word from Captain Valentine to get you away from the king as soon as it was safe to do so."

"Vincent, but how?" She blinked at this news.

"I was visiting an.. old friend." He answered her lightly, looking back to his right again and narrowing his eyes slightly. "Vincent arrived and asked for my help."

"But.."

He quickly silenced her again and gestured towards three dark figures that were making their way slowly towards the king. Aeris' eyes widened and looked up at Tseng.. he just shook his head without taking his eyes from the scene and gestured to two other figures coming from the other side, Aeris.. regretfully, kept quiet.. even though she could quite easily hear the king calling for her.

* * * * *

Vincent had arrived at Elena's house wanting to ask her if there was anyone in the immediate area that he could hire to help him. What he found though, was Tseng.. visiting the Governor.. they were, after all, still close friends.

And now he crept along in the bushes behind the king with another man, Vincent never bothered to ask the man's name.. it wouldn't matter in the long run. Pausing he watched Cid and two others creeping towards the king from the other side, glancing around he didn't see lady Aeris anywhere, it seemed as if Tseng had completed his part of the plan.. now all captain Valentine had to do was pull off his own part. His eyes widened slightly as he watched the king pulling the dagger from the saddlebag.. just what is he playing at, it's not possible he's noticed us already. Glancing at his companion, Vincent noticed the man hadn't seen the dagger. Perhaps.. his thoughts trailed back to the meetings he had had with the king before the wedding of Aeris and prince Sephiroth.. perhaps he is planning on killing the lady. He sneered lightly, this king was obviously not fit to rule anymore.. let Cid have him. But wait.. those thoughts are treason! He reminded himself.. no, he reasoned, as captain of the guard is it my duty to protect the kingdom and her royal family.. and that includes lady Aeris.. the king is obviously mad.. he smirked lightly at his reasoning, yes.. he is mad and no longer fit to rule! Just then he saw the signal, nodded to his companion, and both of them leapt at Hojo just at the same time as Cid and the two others with him leapt.

Aeris gasped raising her hands to her mouth at the attack, turning away and burying her face in Tseng's chest. Tseng stroked her hair lightly as he watched the attack emotionlessly, wondering why Valentine was letting it continue, but not involving himself as it was nothing to do with his kingdom.

Vincent quietly looked down at the body of the dead king.

"Where is she?! I thought she was seen with him!!"

Vincent glanced up at Cid, who was growling and cursing as he looked around the clearing. "Perhaps she went for a walk." He suggested.

Cid turned and looked back at Vincent. "Ya, you could be right.. ok, Vin-man.. you're job is done." He threw a pouch of gold at Vincent.

Catching the bag, Vincent didn't bothered to check the amount as he tied it to his belt. "I'll be around.." he smirked, "if you ever need me again. I'll go after the lady.. do not worry, she'll be dealt with."

Cid chuckled. "Yeah, good idea. I'll remember ya." He lit a cigarette and gestured for the other three to deal with the body as Vincent took the horses and headed down the path.

Tseng was still comforting Aeris when Vincent arrived. Helping the girl up onto the horse infront of Vincent, he climbed up onto the other and followed the other man to drop Aeris off at the palace, before gathering the guards and going after Cid and his men.

* * * * *

Sephiroth sighed as he sat in court that evening, the king was dead.. and now he was left to rule the kingdom. He was not king yet, he would have to wait until the coronation ceremony in a few days, so technically though he was the next in line to the throne.. he shared command equally with captain Valentine, who.. as usual, was standing behind him and just to his right. Sephiroth glanced at Vincent and the raven-haired man nodded in agreement to his judgement, turning back to face the guards and nodded once. "High treason." He sneered down at the four men on their knees infront of him. "Sentence is death, to be carried out at midday tomorrow. Take them away!" He growled.

The guards dragged off the shackled men, Cid among them.. who was glaring coldly at Vincent, unable to speak because he had been gagged a few seconds after he'd recognised the captain, who was now in his uniform and smirking quietly throughout the whole trial.

Sephiroth turned and glanced at Aeris, who was clinging to his hand tightly throughout the whole trial. "Are you ready?" He asked her lightly.

Aeris nodded slightly and looked at him. "Yes.. though I hate to do it."

"We've been through this, my love." He hissed quietly so the courtiers wouldn't hear. When she nodded again he looked back to the court. "Send in the prisoner!"

Cloud and another guard brought in Zack, who was shackled, and pushed the raven-haired man onto his knees at the prince's feet. "Zackariah Noir, sire. Conviction.. attempted rape of the princess Aeris, wife to Sephiroth, crown prince of Midgar"

Aeris kept her eyes closed and her face turned towards Sephiroth, as shocked whispers went through the crowd as the conviction was announced.

"What do you have to say for yourself, boy?!" Sephiroth hissed at the former guard.

Zack just glared up at him silently and after awhile Vincent growled. "Prince Sephiroth asked you a question, Zack!"

Zack looked away with a growl and closes his eyes.

"His silence is proof enough for me, we already have both guard Cloud Strife and my wife, princess Aeris' statements." Sephiroth stated in a cold, calm voice. "High treason. The sentence is death, to be carried out immediately!"

Gasps went round and Zack looked up suddenly. "What?!" He tried to get to his feet though the two guards behind him kept him on his knees. "You can't do this! You can't!!"

"Yes," Sephiroth growled, "I can and I will!" He turned to Vincent and held out his hand. "My sword, captain."

Vincent frowned. "Sire.. is this wise?"

Sephiroth glared at the raven-haired man. "My sword!" He took the blade from the captain as it was handed to him and he stood. Walking down the few steps to the floor, Sephiroth glared down at Zack and raised his sword.

Gasping, Aeris turned away to find Vincent at her side and she gratefully hid her face in his arms as Sephiroth struck down, cleaving Zack's head from his body in one swipe.

"Court is dismissed for the day!" He declared, dropping his sword and stalking out of the hall.

* * * * *

To be continued?

Please R/R